Pakistan and Türkiye have expanded strategic cooperation into the Indian Ocean through energy and maritime engagement, following Pakistan’s latest offshore and onshore exploration awards involving Turkish and Pakistani energy firms.
Under Pakistan’s recent offshore bid round, exploration blocks spanning over 50,000 square kilometres were awarded to consortiums that include Turkish Petroleum Overseas Company (TPOC) – the international arm of Türkiye’s state-owned TPAO – alongside Pakistan’s leading firms OGDCL, PPL, and Mari Energies.
A key focus is the Eastern Offshore Indus Basin, where Turkish Petroleum has joined Pakistani partners. Officials say initial exploration commitments are estimated at around $80 million for seismic surveys and early-stage work. If projects advance to drilling and development, total potential investment could reach $700 million to $1 billion, subject to discoveries and commercial viability.
Beyond energy, the framework includes investment facilitation, technical collaboration, and maritime coordination linked to energy security and sea-lane connectivity in the Indian Ocean. Officials clarified the engagement is investment- and energy-focused, with no announcement of military deployment.
Technical and commercial consultations are expected to continue as exploration progresses and investment decisions move to subsequent phases.
